TOCA Race Driver 3

TOCA Race Driver 3 (DTM Race Driver 3 in Germany, V8 Supercars 3 in Australia, TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge in the PlayStation Portable version and Race Driver: Create & Race in the Nintendo DS version) is a racing video game developed and published by Codemasters for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS and OS X. It is the sixth game in the TOCA series. The game features several fully licensed championships, including the DTM series and V8 Supercar championship. This is the last in the series to have TOCA in its title as following on from this TOCA was dropped in favour of just Race Driver. The game received positive reviews, frequently being compared favorably to Gran Turismo 4 and Forza Motorsport, in the aspects of cars on track, collision and wear damage.

TOCA Race Driver 3
Developer(s)Codemasters
Sumo Digital (PSP)
Publisher(s)Codemasters
SeriesTOCA
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation Portable, OS X, Nintendo DS
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 2 & Xbox
  • NA: 22 February 2006
  • EU: 24 February 2006
  • AU: 13 October 2006
PlayStation Portable
  • EU: 16 February 2007
  • AU: 23 February 2007
OS X
  • NA: 24 October 2008
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Gameplay
Race Driver 3 features many racing disciplines, such as kart racing, monster trucks, Formula 1 and V8 Supercars.

TOCA Race Driver 3 includes 120 Championships and 35 types of racing through the Championship in World Tour, Pro Career, and Free Race. Also it has Bonus Championships in different disciplines. They take place largely in the UK and Germany, though many more tracks are unlocked by winning cups in Pro Career, or by setting a lap time record on a course within Pro Career mode. Open wheel, GT, Oval racing, Rallying and Off-road racing were all featured, and can be raced in either a detailed Pro Career mode or an open-ended World Tour. The game features many real-life competitions, including British GT, DTM, IRL and V8 Supercars, as well as a Vintage series, other GT series, and Rally. The Formula Williams FW27 is the featured car of the Formula 1 series in the game. The career mode progresses with various cutscenes featuring the player character's crew chief providing driving tips and general commentary.

Settings for racing are largely customizable. Players can adjust the number of laps and difficulty level. Race rules such as wrong way, corner cutting, and careless driving penalties, and racing flags can also be turned on or off. Players can choose to qualify for races, which allows them to secure a position on the starting grid rather than being placed at the back.

Online play allows 12 and 8 players on PlayStation 2 and Xbox, respectively. It is the only racing simulator for PlayStation 2 with an online racing mode. For the PC up to 12 players could race together with the built-in GameSpy Server or by using a LAN. When GameSpy closed in 2014 Online Multiplayer was subsequently made possible using the Free Tunngle Network. But the Tunngle Network was shut down on 30 April 2018 due to pending requirements of the new European General Data Protection Regulation. Online Racing is still possible in 2021 using the OpenSpy Servers.

The game supports use of a racing wheel. For PlayStation 2 consoles and Microsoft Windows players can utilize wheels such as the Logitech Driving Force GT and the Driving Force Pro. Other wheels are also supported, such as the Mad Catz MC2, which supports multiple platforms.

Development, marketing and release

TOCA Race Driver 3 was unveiled on May 26, 2005 under the title TOCA Race Driver 2006.[1] The name Race Driver 2006 was later used for a PlayStation Portable Race Driver game. A single player demo was released December 2005.[2] It was released February 2006 for Windows, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. A PlayStation Portable version entitled TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge was released in February 2007. A Mac OS X port was released October 24, 2008. The game was part of the early GOG.com lineup.[3]

The damage model from TOCA Race Driver 2 is improved. Codemasters added additional damage elements for engine, suspension, axle and steering. Tire modeling has also been improved. Tires are affected by being cool or hot and wear over time.[4] The developers wanted to improve the singe player racing experience. Johnathan Davis, designer on Race Driver 3 felt that in too many games "you start on the grid and either get left behind or your overtake the AI and go on to win. We really wanted people to battle all the way through."[4] Codemasters interviewed real racing drivers to learn what challenges they would face on the track, such as judging braking distances. These were then implemented into the game's AI.[4] It supports Introversion Software's amBX gaming lights.[5]

Reception

The game received "generally favorable reviews" on all platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic, with scores ranging from 76/100 for the PlayStation Portable versions to 84/100 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions.[6][7][8][9] In Japan, where the PS2 version got a port on January 24, 2008,[26] Famitsu gave it a score of all four sevens for a total of 28 out of 40.[14] It was the second highest grossing title in the UK in February 2006, and the sixth highest grossing the following month.[27][28]

See also

References
  1. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/27/toca-race-driver-2006-unveiled
  2. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news191205toca3demo
  3. https://www1.videogamer.com/news/gog-discusses-ubisoft-and-the-future
  4. https://www.gamespot.com/videos/toca-race-driver-2006-developer-interview/2300-6132102/
  5. https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/codemasters-agrees-to-more-ambx-games/
  6. "TOCA Race Driver 3 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  7. "TOCA Race Driver 3 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  8. "TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge (psp: 2007): Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  9. "TOCA Race Driver 3 for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  10. Edge staff (March 2006). "TOCA Race Driver 3 (PC, PS2, Xbox)". Edge (160): 87.
  11. EGM staff (March 2006). "TOCA Race Driver 3 (PS2, Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (201): 102.
  12. Bramwell, Tom (8 February 2007). "TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge". Eurogamer. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  13. Reed, Kristan (2 March 2006). "TOCA Race Driver 3 (Xbox)". Eurogamer. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  14. Brian (16 January 2008). "Famitsu review scores". Nintendo Everything. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  15. "TOCA Race Driver 3 (PS2, Xbox)". Game Informer (155): 100. March 2006.
  16. Ouroboros (March 2006). "ToCA Race Driver 3 (PS2, Xbox)". GamePro: 80. Archived from the original on 5 March 2006. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  17. Navarro, Alex (24 February 2006). "TOCA Race Driver 3 Review (PC, PS2)". GameSpot. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  18. Navarro, Alex (28 February 2006). "TOCA Race Driver 3 Review (Xbox)". GameSpot. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  19. Steinberg, Steve (27 February 2006). "GameSpy: TOCA Race Driver 3 (PS2, Xbox)". GameSpy. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  20. Perry, Douglass C. (24 February 2006). "TOCA Race Driver 3 (PC)". IGN. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  21. Perry, Douglass C. (14 February 2006). "TOCA Race Driver 3 (PS2, Xbox)". IGN. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  22. "TOCA Race Driver 3". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 90. March 2006.
  23. "TOCA Race Driver 3". Official Xbox Magazine: 80. March 2006.
  24. "TOCA Race Driver 3". PC Gamer: 98. April 2006.
  25. Hill, Jason (23 February 2006). "V8 Supercars 3 (PC, PS2, Xbox)". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  26. "TOCA レース ドライバー 3 ジ アルティメット レーシング シミュレーター" (in Japanese). Famitsu. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  27. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/99277/UK_Sales_Chart_Week_Ending_February_25th.php
  28. https://www1.videogamer.com/news/uk-videogame-chart-graw-is-fastest-selling-xbox-360-title
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